Supplemental accordion support



March 9, 1954 E. SANZONE SUPPLEMENTAL ACCORDION SUPPORT Filed June 1, 1950 I NVEN TO R Edward Sarzzone.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPLEMENTAL ACCORDION SUPPORT Edward Sanzone, New Haven, Conn.

Application June 1, 1950, Serial No. 165,458

This invention relates to accordion, or like, supports and more particularly to a supplemental support for an accordion whereby an accordion player may be relieved of a part of the weight of such an instrument.

An accordion, or like instrument, is relatively heavy and it usually requires considerable movement while being played, one hand and arm actuating the playing keys while the other hand and arm actuates tone stops and operates the bellows, whereby the instrument must be supported in convenient position for such manipulation. In most instances the accordion is hung by straps about the users shoulders and thus its entire weight is imposed thereon.

Beginners, and particularly children, often find the weight of an accordion, when hung from their shoulders, very tiring and somewhat inconvenient. In the instance of very young children, this constant burden and strain upon their shoulders seriously interferes with the proper manipulation of the instrument for eflicient playing and thus retards playing instruction, whereby the child often becomes discouraged.

When playing an accordion, or like instrument, it is necessary that the same be allowed considerable freedom of movement in all directions so that its user may obtain expression and tone effects, and experience what is termed a feel of the instrument. Any supplemental support, therefore, must be of such nature that it will not interfere with the users ability to freely move the instrument, or effect the feel in playing, an experienced player having the impression that the instrument is a part of him and a beginner must be taught to experience this same impression, or feel.

It is one object of this invention to provide an accordion, or like instrument, support, which will supplement the usual supporting straps and carry at least part of the weight of the instrument without interfering in any manner with the proper playing operation of the same.

Another object is to provide a support for an accordion which will permit free movement of the same while assisting the usual supporting straps in supporting the instrument in proper playing position in respect to the user.

A further object is to provide an accordion support which will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple in construction, compact, of pleasing appearance, and very efficient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, there have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings several forms in which the features and 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-376) principles of this invention may be conveniently and practically embodied.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front view of an accordion being supported by a support embodying the features and principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the same;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the supporting frame used with the supporting device shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a front view of an accordion supporting device, similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, but of somewhat modified form;

Figure 5 is a side view of another modified form of an accordion supporting device;

Figure 6 is a broken away front view of the supporting device shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a side view of an accordion support similar to that shown in Figures 5 and 6 but of somewhat modified form.

Referring now to th drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the reference numeral H denotes an accordion in its entirety and which has the usual key board l2, bellows l3, stops I4, and a wrist strap l5. Loops l6 and I1, usually of metal, are provided one upon the upper end and the other upon the lower end of the accordion casing, to which shoulder supporting straps I8 and I!) are fastened. The straps l8 and I9 extend from the bottom loop 11 under the users arms forwardly over the shoulder and downwardly in front of the user to the loop I 6. Due to being supported by the straps l8 and I9, as above described, the accordion is free to be moved, or swung, in any direction while its entire weight is imposed upon the users shoulders. Each of the straps I8 and [9 are provided with buckles 29 whereby they ma be adjusted in length.

To partially eliminate the constant strain of supporting the entire weight of an accordion on the users shoulders, the supplemental supports illustrated, embodying the features and principles of this invention, are provided, particularly for small children, although, in some instance, adults will find the same convenient and useful. The preferred supplemental accordion support shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, of the accompanying drawings includes a supporting frame comprising a horizontal floor engaging base 2| preferably of rod-like material bent into the form of a triangle. An arm 22 extend vertically from a corner of the base 2| and is received in, and by, means of a rivet 23, is fastened to a sleeve 24. A vertical arm 25, of another rodlike member is received in the upper end of the sleeve 24 and is slidable therein for vertical adjustment. A thumb screw 26 is provided to lock the arm in any of its vertically adjusted positions in the sleeve 24.

A horizontal arm 21, integral with the arm 24, extends back over the base 2| and, when in use, is disposed between the body of the accordion user and the accordion A loop 28 is provided on the free end of the arm 2?. A strap 29, which may be of elastic material, is wrapped over the loop 28 and extends downwardly and is wrapped over the lower 100p II, which is attached to the accordion. The strap 29 is provided with a buckle 30 whereby it may be adjusted in length.

By the provision of the supplemental accordion support consisting of the base 2|, and arms 22, 25 and 21, and the strap 29, an accordion may be suspended in proper playing position in front of a user and will assist the usual shoulder straps l8 and IS in carrying the weight of the accordion, relieving the strain upon the users shoulders. The free movement of the accordion, while being played, is not interfered with since, due to the one point suspension, the strap 29 being attached at only one point to the accordion, whereby the latter is free to be swung in any direction while being played. Thus the feel, or impression of being one with the accordion, is not interfered with, or destroyed. A user may be seated, or standing, and still obtain all of the advantages of the use of this supporting means.

In instances where it is not desirable, nor convenient, to use a floor engaging base 2|, a base member, or chair seat clamp, 3|, see Figure 4, may be secured, as by welding, directly to the sleeve 24, and the arm 25 may pass through the sleeve 24 and be locked in vertically adjusted position by a thumb screw 28. The clamp 3| comprises a seat plate 32 spaced from an arm 33 through which a clamp screw 34 is screwed to engage the underside of a chair seat 35 to clamp the plate 32 thereto.

In the form shown in Figures 5 and 6, a supplemental base member, or chair seat, 4| is provided to be placed upon any chair seat 42 and held in place when the accordion player is seated thereon. Laterally spaced apart sleeves 43 are secured to the seat 4| and extend vertically therefrom at the rear edge thereof. Vertically disposed rods 44 and 45 are received one in each sleeve 43, and are vertically adjustable in respect thereto,

being locked in adjusted position by a thumb screw 46.

An arcuately bent channel member 41 is secured to the upper end of each rod 44 and 45 in position to, preferably gently, rest on the accordion users shoulders. porting straps I8 and is are wrapped one over each arcuate member 41 within the channel 48 thereof, whereby the accordion II will be supported by the rods 44 and 45 instead of directly by the shoulders of the user. Substantially all the required movements of an accordion, while it is being played, will be permitted when such a support is being used.

In the form shown in Figure 7, each of the arcuate members 41, over which the straps I8 and H] are wrapped, is attached, as by welding, to a bent rod 5|. The vertical portion 52 of each rod 5| is slidingly mounted in a base member, or bracket, 53, being locked in any vertically adjusted position by a thumb screw 54. The bracket 53 has spaced apart arms 55 and 56 which are adapted to straddle the back 51 of a chair. A clamp screw 58 screwed through the arm 56 is provided to clamp the bracket 53 to the chair back 51.

The usual accordion sup- By the provision of the accordion supports shown in the drawings, and as above described, substantially all of the weight of an accordion may be imposed on the support rather than upon the shoulders of the accordion player and without aifecting the free movements of the accordion, required while it is being played. By adjusting the supports, as described, the amount of weight of the accordion supported thereby, may be varied. The player, by supporting more, or less, of the weight of the accordion upon his shoulders experiences the proper feel of being one with the accordion, and readily learns to play the instrument in the proper manner whereby, after the user becomes an experienced player, the supplemental support may be dispensed with.

While there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of supplemental accordion support with various modifications thereof all embodying the features and principles of this invention, it will be understood that the same may be embodied in other specific forms without.

departing from the spirit and essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus fully disclosed the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is:

1. In an accordion support, an elongated vertically disposed longitudinally movable member, a support for the member at the lower end of the latter, said member being vertically adjustable with respect to said support, a rigid strap-receiving element extending from the upper end of said member, and a flexible adjustable strap depending from said element and connected to an accordion permitting swinging movement of the accordion in any direction.

2. In an accordion support, a rod-like horizontally disposed base member of triangular shape having an upwardly directed extension at one corner thereof, a right-angular rod having one end adjustably connected to said extension for vertical movement of said rod, said rod having a strap-receiving portion at the other end thereof, and a flexible adjustable strap depending from said strap-receiving portion of the rod and connected to an accordion at the underside thereof, said strap permitting swinging movement of the accordion in any direction.

3. In an accordion support, an arcuate strapreceiving member, a support for said member, said member being vertically adjustable with respect to said support, and a flexible adjustable stra depending from said member and having its lower end connected to an accordion at the underside thereof, said arcuate member being adapted to overlie a player's shoulder, and said strap permitting movement of the accordion in any direction.

EDWARD SANZONE';

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 945,520 Greenwood Jan, 4, 1910 1,310,567 Harbord July 22, 1919 2,036,545 Schmidt Apr. 7, 1936 2,163,859 Ver Bockel June 27, 1939 2,203,234 Petersen -a June 4, 1940 2,204,021; Richeda June 11, 1940 2,218,142 Becker oct. 15, I940 

